West Coast US Vacation Ideas #1:
Mendenhall Glacier, in Juneau, Alaska is a 5000 square mile expanse of snow, ice and rock which is still flowing at the breakneck speed of 2 feet per day. This alaska vacation spot is actually very accessible despite the fact that are no roads into Juneau. A ferry or plane is the way to get there. Then head to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center which is the jumping off point to see the glacier.
There is a network of maintained trails leading to the glacier. There is plenty of native wildlife to see such as red squirrels, porcupines, beaver, mountain goats, black and brown bears. Mendenhall Lake is popular for kayaks and canoes.
West Coast US Vacation Ideas #2:
The historic mining town of Ely is in the heart of Nevada's ghost-town country. It makes sense that here you can see - as well as ride - the old
Ghost Train of Ely. This is also where you can find the
Nevada Northern Railway Museum. This is a great vacation spot for kids, train buffs or anyone interested in history. There are 50 or so old buildings making this a
National Historic District. The museum has 56 acres with all kinds of trains including freight, passenger, steam, electric and diesel. For a really unique vacation experience you can rent a steam or deisel locomotive and actually drive it down the tracks yourself. Sounds like fun!
West Coast US Vacation Ideas #3:
A fun thing to do while vacationing in Arizona is a jet boat ride on the Colorado River.
Yuma River Tours offers exciting jet boat tours through the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. These tours offer an excellent way to enjoy the magnificent scenery around Yuma, Arizona and along the Colorado River.
The tours are narrated and provide a good sense of the local history and plenty of opportunity to see some Southwest wildlife such as bighorn sheep, burros, deer and many varieties of birds. Part of the tour includes viewing American Indian petroglyphs. Yuma River Tours also offers canoe trips, bird watching tours and photography tours.
West Coast US Vacation Ideas #4:
The Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway is a great road trip vacation idea in New Mexico. It starts out near the small town of Cedar Crest. The road then twists and turns it's way 4,000 feet up to the summit of the Sandia Mountains, with wonderful scenery along the whole route. The observation deck at the Sandia Peak provides a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the Rio Grande Valley, often referred to as the
Land of Enchanment. The peak is also accessible from the Sandia Ski resort via the
Sandia Peak Tramway, the world's longest passenger aerial tramway. For hikers and mountain bikers the Sandia Peak has over 26 miles of trails in the Cibola National Forest.
West Coast US Vacation Ideas #5:
Of all the state capitals,
Olympia, Washington may be the most beautiful. Located along the Puget Sound, the city commands impressive views of the Olympic Mountains, Mount Ranier and Puget Sound making this is a wonderful vacation spot. The Capitol Campus is a great place to visit with 30 acres of cherry blossom trees and flower gardens. You can tour the capitol building and actually watch the legislature as they hammer out the laws. Capital Lake Park is a great place to unwind with a little swimming, sailing biking or just a good walk.
The Hands On Children's Museum is a fun stop on your family vacation in Olympia. The kids will really love to explore all the wonderful interactive exhibits.
The Olympic Flight Museum has some great vintage airplanes on display such as the T-28 Trojan, Hawk Hunter, F-104A Starfighter, and a T-37B Tweety Bird.
West Coast US Vacation Ideas #6:
Glenwood Springs is a small town in Colorado located about a half hour from Aspen. Glenwood Springs is home to the
Sunlight Mountain Resort which has 67 ski trails. One has a vertical drop of 2,000 feet. Another one is a family-friendly bunny run that stretches out for 2.5 miles. They have one of the more extreme runs that has a 52 percent grade. Sunlight Mountain Resort also has the world's largest mineral hot springs pool. Glenwood Springs is located near the Roaring Fork River and the Colorado River. You can take guided river rafting trips that are calm enough for the whole family as well as more adventurous rapids.
Nearby, on the top of Iron Mountain you can take the family to the Glennwood Caverns Adventure Park. You can do the guided Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves walking tour. Or you can try the Adventure Tour or the Wild Tour. These will take you in for some real cave exploring fun where you will get dirty as you crawl around inside the mountain caverns. Glennwood Caverns Adventure Park also has some great family thrill rides like the Bungee Trampoline, the Swing Shot, Canyon Flyer and the Alpine Rush. These rides make good use of the high mountain top setting to maximize the excitement.
West Coast US Vacation Ideas #7:
Carson City, Nevada, a former frontier town, is a historical showcase full of old architecture and museums such as the
Nevada State Museum & Mint, the
Nevada State Railroad Museum and
Bowers Mansion which was built by a Comstock millionaire. The Kit Carson Trail runs through the center of town and highlights the rustic beginnings of the well preserved historic district. For some gaming fun and evening entertainment Carson City has a number of great casinos. The Nugget is one of the local favorites and has been voted the “Friendliest Casino”. The city has a number of excellent hiking and biking trails. There's a four-mile easy trail that follows the former Virginia & Truckee Railroad line in East Carson City. You can explore old mining sites and encampments on the more strenuous 15-mile Brunswick Canyon climb.
